2018 Hyundai Kona

By Alex Forrest

Hyundai Kona

When its outrageously popular ix35 was discontinued in June 2015, Hyundai was suddenly without a player in the fastest-growing segment of the new car market – small SUVs. 

So when the much anticipated Kona arrived in October 2017, it wasn’t a moment too soon. 

Hyundai had been away from the small SUV trough for a couple of years, and there was some ground to make up. 

The Korean manufacturer says the Kona is “all-new”, but it’s not really. It’s based on the i30 small car platform and also utilises retuned engines from that model. And that’s a very good thing. 

The Kona offers two engine choices, both petrol. One is a 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol with 110kW and 180Nm, and the other is a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol with 130kW and 265Nm. 
As has been the case for some years with new Hyundai models, the Kona has also undergone significant development in Australia to ensure it is suitable for Australian driving conditions and tastes. 

To that end, among other parameters, the brand’s local in-house tuning department tried 78 different suspension damper designs to ascertain the best suspension tune for Australian roads and drivers. 

The result is the Kona’s handling and steering response is among the best in the small SUV business, and it is fully exploited by the 1.6 turbo AWD drivetrain. It’ll keep a smile on your face long after the cuteness appeal of its exterior wears off.      

On that, the Kona’s design and paint options make it no shrinking violet – a colour which ironically is about the only one missing from its palette. Among the colours you can have are tangerine comet, acid yellow or blue lagoon. 

Although the Kona has a 5-star ANCAP rating, autonomous emergency braking is optional on the Australian market base model but standard on the New Zealand one. 

An optional $1500 safety pack brings in AEB, along with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and high beam assist and more. 

Pricing starts at $27,440 drive away for the 2.0-litre, two wheel drive auto, though opting for that safety pack could well be worth it one day.